The eccentric, hyper-active Rap caricatures the Ying Yang Twins are back with a disappointingly weak attempt at holding onto the one million disillusioned fans that sent their 2005 album ‘United State of Atlanta’ to platinum status. I was sceptical at the thought of enduring 18 tracks from the Georgia duo, but hoped with genuine optimism that they would prove my cynicism un-founded. Unfortunately not - and I now defy any Hip-Hop aficionado to disagree.

The album is split into two sections, the first half hosted and produced in its near entirety by Mr. Collipark with the second part of the LP being picked up, or rather salvaged, by the musical genius that is Wyclef Jean.

The first two tracks ‘Keep on Coming’ and ‘1st Booty on Duty’ sound like obvious club bangers… but upon closer inspection you may begin to realise that you’re listening to ‘Wait (The Whisper Song)’ without the whispering. With the familiar sounding lyrics, “Booty booty booty booty rocking everywhere” and “Shake it like a salt shaker”, it at times seems as though Kaine and D-Rock are simply cross referencing their old songs.

But as disappointing as these earlier tracks are, the production is flawless. If ‘Chemical Imbalance’ was a CD of instrumentals it would be a masterpiece. Unfortunately however, the exhausting, incoherent, lazy and downright basic rapping of the brothers lets down the impressively consistent beat-making.

Just as you think you’ve heard it all before and can’t possibly bear another reference to a woman’s posterior, Clef steps in and raises the bar on this fading album. ‘Dangerous’, produced by Wyclef and his cousin Jerry ‘Wonda’ Duplessis and featuring Jean’s hypnotically pleasing vocals is without a doubt the diamond in the rough. The boys manage to narrate a catchy tale of the ‘hood’s modern day femme fatale’s over fitting samples of ‘Maneater’ and ‘Black Betty’.

The album’s late recovery is maintained by ‘Family’, a memorable track with a surprising sentiment that showcases a rare occasion when the Twins are actually saying something; “Go tell Mama to go ask Dad/ if today was the last time we were a family like we’re supposed to be”, a heart warming discourse on fatherhood and broken homes that deviates refreshingly from their other-used Crunk formula.

But this deviation is short lived and the album comes full circle on ‘Friday’ a weak, wack, waste of another hot beat… “Just got paid, it’s a Friday night….” And yadda yadda yadda.

The likeable partnership has proven itself on collaborations with the likes of Busta and Lil’ Jon… but as nice as salt can be when sprinkled on a meal, you wouldn’t eat a whole plate of it.

‘Chemically Imbalanced’ is a poor project with little tangible content. A few light-hearted hooks that stick in your short-term memory and a banging hidden bonus track coupled with some up-tempo production make this a good enough party album, but a contribution to music that is unlikely to survive amongst the competition, proving that sometimes, Atlanta does get it wrong. Cop this CD if you want a shiny coaster.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Top Tracks:

12) Dangerous

13) Family

15) Leave